my $slobbo = "select * from bleh where whatever = "; ... ... my $sth = $connection->connection->prepare($slobbo.$thangsname ); #### foreach my $var (@list) $sql = $l_dbh->prepare("INSERT activity (activity_num) VALUES (?)"); @l_sqlparams = ($var); $l_result=$sql->execute (@l_sqlparams) or die 'no';